One proposition of interest was to invest in research making ethanol from agricultural waste, which is a realistic biofuel of our future.

Methane gas is a natural byproduct of landfills all over our country. Power plants are starting to use this energy source to make the electricity to power your home and business.

There are also newly developing biofuels from algae and cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is most interesting because it uses plant matter that might normally be considered agricultural waste … corn stalks, straw, various grasses and woody plant material.

The featured guest, Tim Searchinger of Princeton University, said, “The simplest explanation is that when we divert our corn or soybeans to fuel, if people around the world are going to continue to eat the same amount that they’re already eating, you have to replace that food somewhere else.”

This of course forces humans to convert more natural forests and grasslands into agricultural fields which results in more carbon dioxide production.

Of the Renewable Fuels Association, Matt Hartwig, agreed that ethanol is not the perfect answer, but “it is evolving and becoming better.”

And Alex Farrell of Berkley sees light at the end of the tunnel … he counters with the very real prospect of using biofuels made from landfill materials, waste, or grasses.

All agree that the biodiesel industry is continuing to evolve, and with it is the need for stringent biodiesel fuel testing.

For additional information on biodiesel testing, please contact bpohlman@midwestlabs.com.